Chapter 526: The Right Timing

After their conversation came to an end, everyone continued eating around the campfire, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Once they had finished their meal, they cleaned up the campsite and prepared to rest for the night.

Since they were traveling through a dangerous region, they decided to take turns keeping watch while the others slept.

Eventually, the campsite grew quiet, with only the crackling of the campfire breaking the silence.

Adam was the first to take watch. Sitting beside the fire, he casually observed his surroundings, occasionally checking the area with his senses to ensure nothing dangerous was approaching.

It was then that he noticed someone emerging from one of the tents.

He turned his head and saw Alice walking toward him.

’Huh? Isn’t she supposed to be sleeping?’ he thought in confusion.

As far as he knew, Alice was sharing a tent with Ignis and Azrynn. He could understand her getting along with Ignis, considering how often the two spent time together, especially because they have been together for a long time. However, he was a little surprised to discover that she had grown so close to Azrynn as well.

Meanwhile, Lilith and Isolde had chosen to sleep in separate tents. Both of them seemed to appreciate having their own personal space, and neither had any intention of sharing it with someone else.

Adam watched Alice approach until she eventually stopped in front of him.

For some reason, she seemed a little different tonight.

The usually arrogant girl hesitated for a moment, her cheeks faintly flushed. She glanced at the empty space beside Adam before looking away, as though gathering the courage to say something.

Then, with her usual proud demeanor, she spoke.

"...Can I sit here?"

Adam stared at her for a moment.

He couldn’t help noticing how unusual it was for Alice to ask permission for something so trivial. Normally, she would have simply sat down without a second thought, perhaps even complained if he occupied the spot she wanted.

But tonight, she was actually asking him.

’What is she planning this time...?’

Adam narrowed his eyes slightly, growing suspicious of her uncharacteristic behavior.

Still, he gestured toward the empty space beside him.

"Sure. It’s not like I own the ground."

Alice sat down beside him, maintaining her proud expression despite the faint redness on her cheeks.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Alice sat beside Adam with her hands resting on her lap, occasionally glancing at him before quickly looking away.

Eventually, she broke the silence.

"Hey, Adam."

"Hm?"

"Am I... too harsh on you?"

Adam turned to look at her.

For a moment, he wondered whether he had heard her correctly. Alice, who never hesitated to kick him whenever he annoyed her, was actually asking whether she treated him too harshly?

’Ah, so that’s what this is about.’

He finally understood why she had been acting so strangely. Perhaps she had started reflecting on how she usually treated him.

Adam chuckled.

"Not really. Why would I mind?"

"But I always hit you whenever you say something annoying. Sometimes, I even kick you."

"Well, that’s true."

Alice’s expression twitched.

"Could you at least hesitate before agreeing with me?"

"Sorry, sorry."

Adam waved his hand dismissively before continuing.

"Anyway, I don’t mind it. In fact, I actually enjoy it."

Alice turned toward him, her eyes widening slightly.

"...You enjoy it?"

"Yeah."

Adam nodded with a perfectly serious expression.

"Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I’m a masochist or anything. I just find it amusing when you get all worked up and start attacking me. It’s entertaining to see you lose your composure over the smallest things."

He paused, then added with a grin, "Besides, you’re pretty cute when you’re angry."

"Y-You..."

Alice’s face turned noticeably red.

She immediately looked away, trying to hide her expression.

"...I see."

Her reply was so quiet that Adam almost failed to hear it.

He stared at her strangely.

’What the hell?’

This wasn’t the reaction he had expected. Normally, Alice would have kicked him by now and called him an idiot. Instead, she was sitting beside him with flushed cheeks, barely even looking in his direction.

Adam began to wonder whether something was wrong with her.

Or perhaps...

’Wait. Did I say something weird? Was that too much?’

He mentally reviewed his words, trying to figure out what had caused such an unusual reaction.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t come up with anything.

Before he could ask her what was going on, Alice spoke again.

"By the way, I already know about you and Lilith."

Adam was surprised to hear those words.

"...What?"

Alice finally turned toward him. Although her cheeks were still a little red, her expression had regained some of its usual composure.

"I know that your relationship with her has progressed quite a bit. You’re already at that stage, aren’t you?"

Adam looked at her nervously and his mind went blank for a moment.

’Wait. Hold on.’

’How does she know about that?!’

His mind began racing as he desperately tried to figure out how Alice had discovered it. Had Lilith told her? Had someone else seen something? Or had Alice somehow figured it out herself?

None of those possibilities gave him any comfort.

’I’m doomed.’

Adam maintained a calm expression on the outside, but internally, alarm bells were ringing.

Meanwhile, Alice watched him closely, seemingly waiting for his response.

"So?" she asked. "Are you going to deny it?"

Adam fell silent as he considered Alice’s question.

He could try to deny it, but judging by her expression, she already knew the truth. More importantly, he had a feeling that lying to her now would only hurt her feelings even more when she eventually found out.

In the end, he decided to be honest.

"...Yeah. You’re right. Lilith and I have already reached that stage in our relationship."

Alice’s shoulders stiffened slightly, but she didn’t interrupt him.

Adam cleared his throat awkwardly before continuing.

"And, well... Ignis is at that stage with me too."

That statement left Alice speechless, which made Adam worry even more about his life.

Then, she slowly turned her head toward him.

"...Ignis too?"

"Yeah."

"IGNIS TOO?!"

Her voice nearly made Adam jump.

"I can’t believe it! I’ve been overtaken by Ignis of all people!"

Alice grabbed her head in frustration, looking as though she had just received the worst news of her life.

"How did that even happen?! That little glutton who spends half her time eating sweets?!"

"Well, when you put it like that, it sounds a little strange..."

"Don’t try to change the subject!"

Adam immediately shut his mouth.

Alice glared at him, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.

"And you! Why didn’t you tell me?!"

"Sorry. I actually wanted to tell you, but I hadn’t found the right time yet."

"The right time?!"

Alice looked as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

"Do you realize how important this is?! You should have chosen the right timing when there was no chance!"

"You’re right. I’m sorry."

"And don’t think apologizing will get you off the hook!"

"I’m really sorry, Alice."

"You should have told me properly from the beginning!"

"I know. I messed up."

Adam continued apologizing, doing his best to appease her. He knew that teasing Alice would only make things worse right now, so he wisely kept his mouth shut and let her vent.

Eventually, Alice crossed her arms and turned her face away with an indignant hmph!

Adam glanced at her cautiously.

"...Are you still angry?"

"Hmph!"

"Alice?"

She refused to look at him.

After a brief silence, she muttered under her breath.

"...And here I was, thinking I was the first one to be with you."

Adam fell silent hearing those words.

Alice’s face grew even redder the moment she realized what she’d said. Nevertheless, she stubbornly kept her arms crossed, refusing to look at him.

"I mean, I was with you before either of them! So how did they both get ahead of me?!"

Adam stared at her, suddenly understanding that this conversation wasn’t merely about keeping secrets.

Alice had been thinking about their relationship, too.

And judging by her reaction, she was far more bothered by it than he had initially realized.

’Oh, boy... I’m in even deeper trouble than I thought.’